Until recently written documents and oral recollection were the basis of genealogical research and building family trees. At the beginning of the 21st century DNA testing became the new tool for discovering family history.
Testing for DNA is popular in the USA where most people who have taken the various tests DNA live. It has been estimated that over 12 million persons have tested their DNA.
I tested with Ancestry and FamilyTree several years ago. With Ancestry, I am 48% Ireland/Scotland/Wales & 5% English. FamilyTree results is are British Isles 55%. My mitochondrial haplogroup is J. Mitochondrial DNA is inherited from the female line therefore from my great grandmother Margaret MAHADY, grandmother Anne DONNELLY, my mother, myself, then to my daughters, and granddaughters.
There have been several successful finds/matches on my grandfather Thomas WALSH line.
On my grandmother, Anne DONNLLY, line Ancestry DNA has recently discovered several matches. My WALSH & DONNELLY families were in the Kilfian Parish and the newly discovered DONNELLY families are in Ballycastle Parish. Below is a image of the Catholic Dioceses at the National Library of Ireland highlighting Ballycastle and Kilfian Dioceses of County Mayo. These two are adjacent to one another.
One of the newly found DNA cousin's ancestor was Peter DONNELLY of Ballycastle, County Mayo. Our relationship is rated “
Confidence Good, Predicted Relationship: 4th cousin”. I share 22.8 centimorgans with this DNA cousin. I believe this match may be a 3rd cousin. My great grandfather John “Jack” DONNELLY was born ca 1821 and died 1 August 1912 at Ballygowan, County Mayo. It is presently my belief John DONNELLY and Peter DONNELLY may be brothers.
Peter DONNELLY 1822-1892
Peter was born ca 1822, died 10 March 1892 at Glenurla, Ballycastle, Mayo. Peter married Sarah TOYE who died at Glenurla 5 May 1894. They were the parents of the following 7 children:
1. Mary DONNELLY born ca 1861 County Mayo, died 14 March 1909, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA; married Charles CHEVALIER, 21 November 1891, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. Their children were Mary, Sarah Regina, Albert Henry
2. Catherine DONNELLY born ca 1863, died 21 February 1938, Glenurla, Ballycastle, Mayo; married John McDONNELL 3 July 1902, Chapel of Ballycastle, Mayo. They had no issue.
3. Martin DONNELLY born 4 December 1865, Ballymachugh, Ballycastle, Mayo. His birth was recorded in the Irish Civil Records of Births & his baptism-10 December 1865 at Ballycastle Parish, Mayo. Martin died 20 June 1933 at Glenurla, Ballycastle, Mayo. Martin married twice - first, 4 February 1891 Chapel of Ballycastle, Mayo to Catherine McCANDRESS who died 16 July 1904. They had 5 sons - Martin, Pat, Michael, Thomas & John. After the death of his wife Martin married Catherine BELL, 3 February 1906 at the Church of Ballycastle, Mayo. There were no children from this union.
4. Sarah DONNELLY born March 1868 at Ballymachugh, Ballycastle, Mayo. Her birth was not recorded in the Civil Records, she stated her birth date in the U.S. census. Sarah died 15 April 1940 Harford, Connecticut, USA. Married John J. SHEA (1865-1917) 13 May 1891 in Springfield, Massachusetts USA
5. Honoria “Nora" DONNELLY born 22 March 1868 Ballymachugh, Ballycastle, Mayo, her birth was recorded in the Irish Civil Records of Births. Nora died 16 July 1917 at Wethersfield, Connecticut, USA. She never married.
6. John DONNELLY born 10 May 1871, Ballymachugh, Ballycastle, Mayo & baptized 14 May 1871 at Ballycastle Parish His birth recorded in the Irish Civil Records of Births.
7. Peter DONNELLY born 25 April 1873 Ballymachugh, Ballycastle, Mayo & baptized 4 May 1873 at Ballycastle Parish His birth record was recorded in the Irish Civil Records of Births. Peter died 27 February 1959 Brookline, Norfolk, Massachusetts; Peter married Ann HENRY 27 October 1901 in Brookline, Norfolk, Massachusetts, USA. Ann died before 1920. They were the parents of James, Mary, Joseph, Sarah, Helen.
15 August 2018
Ancestry has discovered another DONNELLY DNA match. Once again, I believe this may be a brother or cousin of “my” John DONNELLY. This match is to a grandchild of Patrick Donnelly, first child of Michael Donnelly. This DNA cousin and I share 53 centimorgans.
Michael DONNELLY 1818-1898
Michael Donnelly was born ca 1818 in County Mayo and died 6 October 1898 at Kilbride, Mayo. Michael married Bridget BARRETT ca 1863 in Mayo.
Michael and Bridget were the parents of the following seven known children. These births were recorded in the County Mayo, Civil Registration District - Killala, District of Ballycastle, Townland-Kilbride. Their baptisms were at Ballycastle Parish, County Mayo.
1. Patrick DONNELLY 1864-1926 Born ca March 1864 in Kilbride, Mayo. Patrick’s birth was not documented in the Irish civil registrations or the Ballycastle Parish baptisms as his siblings. Irish civil registrations started in January 1864 and compliance was spotty in the beginning. The Ballycastle Parish baptism records begin in August 1864. Patrick immigrated to the U.S. where he married Annie McMahan 21 July 1897 at Butte, Silver Bow, Montana. On the marriage license Patrick named his parents and place of birth in Ireland. Patrick and Annie were the parents of six - Eileen Theresa born in Montana, John, Michael Clancy, Thomas, Catherine Maria, Joseph Patrick. The remaining five were born in the state of Washington. In April 1926 Patrick died in Tacoma, Pierce, Washington. His wife Annie died 31 December 1947 in Seattle, King, Washington.
2. Michael DONNELLY 1866-_ Born 24 July 1866. The baptism was not found. The 1901 Irish census of Kilbride, Lackan North, Mayo found Michael DONNELLY, single, age 30, living with Bridget DONNELLY, his mother. There were no other Donnellys in Kilbride. I believe he may be the Michael DONNELLY of Carrakillean, father Michael, who in 1909 married Catherine KEARNS in Crossmolina Parish, Mayo. This couple was found in the 1911 Irish census living in Mayo, townland Carrakillean - DONNELLY Michael age 42, wife Kate age 24 and daughter Bridget, an infant.
3. Eleanor/Ellen DONNELLY 1869-1945 Born 13 December 1869. Her birth registration name was Eleanor, the only time the name was used. She was baptized as Ellen, the name she used for the rest of her life. Ellen married John TIGHE on 18 August 1903 at the Catholic Chapel of Ballycastle. Ellen and John were the parents of five known children - Mary 1904, Patrick 1906, John 1908, Michael 1910, James 1912. Ellen died 19 October 1945 at Kilbride, Mayo.
4. Margaret DONNELLY 1872-_ Birth was 7 July 1872.
5. Honor DONNELLY 1876-_ Honor’s baptism was recorded 6 January 1876
6. John DONNELLY 1879-1879 A twin, birth 17 April 1879 and death 20 September 1879 from
bronchitis.
7. Sidney (female) DONNELLY 1879-1899 A twin, birth 17 April 1879. She was baptized Cecilia, the only time this name was used. Sidney’s cause of death was phthisis, pulmonary tuberculosis, 2 June 1899 at Kilbride, Mayo.
